Athens Marathon Weekend 2026: Race Times, Road Closures & Where to Watch

What happens in Athens on marathon weekend

The Athens Marathon. The Authentic takes place on Sunday 8 November 2026, with shorter races and events on Saturday 7 November. Entries for the marathon are closed, but spectating is free and the finish, inside the Panathenaic Stadium, is the main thing to watch. The organisers also keep vehicles out of central Athens for part of both days, so decide how you will move around before you book anything else that weekend.

All times and details below come from the organisers' own pages, checked on 11 October 2026. Programmes and traffic plans can be amended, so check the official site in the days before.

Race times

Day	Race	Start
Saturday 7 Nov	Kids Race 1.2 km (Vas. Sofias Ave., in front of Parliament)	16:00
Saturday 7 Nov	Special Olympics Hellas 1.2 km	16:20
Saturday 7 Nov	5 km Road Race (Amalias Ave., National Gardens entrance)	17:00
Saturday 7 Nov	5 km Universities Night Run	20:00
Sunday 8 Nov	10 km Road Race (Amalias Ave., National Gardens entrance)	08:00
Sunday 8 Nov	Marathon (Marathon town)	08:30

The shorter races finish inside the Panathenaic Stadium, as does the marathon. The organisers' weekly programme lists a marathon start of 08:00 in one entry, while the race page and spectator guide give 08:30; we use 08:30, so confirm on the day.

Estimated finishes at the stadium (organisers' estimates): first 10 km runner 08:31–08:32; first male marathon runner 10:39–10:42; first female marathon runner 11:03–11:05; medal ceremony for the marathon winners 11:35–12:00. The marathon has an eight-hour limit, and the organisers say all finishes will be completed by 18:15.

Where to watch

The finish, Panathenaic Stadium. Only finishing runners and accredited staff may enter the track; friends and family use the spectator stands. The organisers describe the stadium as about 1,000 m from the Syntagma, Acropolis and Evangelismos Metro stations. No vehicles of any kind, including bicycles and skateboards, may enter the stadium.
The start, Marathon town. The opening ceremony and lighting of the Marathon Flame are at the Marathon Tomb on Saturday from 12:30, and the marathon starts in Marathon town on Sunday. We found no official guidance on reaching Marathon town or on viewing points along the course; the organisers point to their event maps and official app.
The route. The organisers list Marathonos Avenue, the Tomb of the Fallen at Marathon, Nea Makri, Pikermi, Pallini, Gerakas, Agia Paraskevi, Chalandri, Cholargos and central Athens, ending at the stadium.
Cost. The events in the spectator guide are free to attend.

Road closures and getting around

The organisers state that no vehicles will be allowed in central Athens or around the stadium on Saturday 7 November from 15:00 to 21:00 and on Sunday 8 November from 05:00 to 18:20, that all race routes will be free of vehicles, and that they strongly recommend the Metro and buses outside the race routes shown on their maps.

Our reading, not an official statement: taxis and rideshares are unlikely to be practical in the centre during those hours. Plan to use the Metro and finish the journey on foot. See the Athens public transport guide, and the taxi and rideshare guide for other times.

Planning your visit around it

Sightseeing. The organiser pages do not say how the closures affect the Acropolis, museums or other sights. Allow extra time, and check your ticket and the Acropolis guide. We found no statement on whether the Panathenaic Stadium is open to ordinary visitors on race days, so do not plan a visit there on 7–8 November without checking.
Where to stay. If you plan to watch the finish, a base within walking distance of the stadium saves relying on vehicles. This is our suggestion; compare areas in the where to stay guide.
The expo. The allwyn Marathon Expo, with the Runners' Centre, is at the Faliro Indoor Hall & Exhibition Centre (the former Taekwondo venue) in Palaio Faliro. Entry is free: Wednesday 4 November 12:00–21:00, Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November 10:00–21:00, Saturday 7 November 10:00–20:00.
If you would rather avoid it. The vehicle restrictions run for part of Saturday and until the evening on Sunday, so plan taxi-dependent trips outside those windows.

To fit the weekend into a day-by-day route, use the Athens itinerary planner. For other autumn events and weather, see Athens in autumn.

FAQ

Can I still enter the Athens Marathon?

The marathon page says registrations are closed, and the organisers reported a sell-out in April 2026. Check the official site for any later change.

Is it free to watch?

The organisers say the events in their spectator guide are free for spectators to attend.

What time do the first runners finish?

The organisers estimate the first male marathon runner at 10:39–10:42 and the first female marathon runner at 11:03–11:05 at the Panathenaic Stadium. These are estimates.

Will roads in central Athens be closed?

Yes. The organisers announce no vehicles in central Athens and around the stadium on Saturday 7 November from 15:00 to 21:00 and on Sunday 8 November from 05:00 to 18:20.

Where is the marathon expo?

At the Faliro Indoor Hall & Exhibition Centre in Palaio Faliro, with free entry, from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 November.

Can I visit the Acropolis on marathon weekend?

The organiser pages do not address it. The Acropolis is not named on the route, but vehicle restrictions apply in central Athens, so allow extra time and check your ticket.